Legendary Harlem Globetrotters star Meadowlark Lemon has died at the age of 83 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

A true character of the fabled Harlem Globetrotters has passed away at the age of 83.

Meadowlark Lemon died on Sunday and will be fondly remembered by the name of the "clown prince".

Lemon grew up in North Carolina and joined the Globetrotters in 1954.

He would go on to play for the touring side 24 years, delighting fans with his trick shots and good humour.

Many of the all-black team's tours took them through the racially torn south during the 1950s and 60s.

Travelling by car, bus, train or plane nearly every night, Lemon covered nearly four million miles to play in over 100 countries.

"We played serious games too, against the Olympic teams and the College All-Stars," Lemon said. "But that didn't stop us from putting the comedy in there."

"We were having fun, Lemon once said, " today, kids, either go to college to learn or to play basketball to make money. I just wanted to be out there and entertain."